I'm a big fan of Steve Martin. Usually, he's a pure joy to watch. I've also become a fan of Queen Latifah--particularly after her scene-stealing work in the recent Chicago. Sadly, the two prove to be an awkward pairing in this dismal comedy. Which is most certainly the fault of this processed and warmed-over material. At times, Bringing Down the House was just about unwatchable.
In this tired farce, Martin plays a tight ass tax attorney who begins a courtship with a woman online. Martin decides to meet the woman in person, and is stunned when Latifah shows up on his doorstep. Before long, Latifah is living in Martin's house and turning his life upside down. Naturally, Martin doesn't like Latifah at first, but as the movie progresses, he begins to learn from her, as does his family, friends, clients, and neighbors.
As I stated before, Martin is a pure joy to watch. He doesn't merely speak his lines, but delivers them with every inch of his body. This is, of course, a Steve Martin trademark. Queen Latifah is also amusing despite being forced to play much of her role as a stereotype. As a result, her charm and candor are never as convincing as it might have been given a stronger script. Eugene Levy provides many of the funniest moments in the film as Martin's friend--a fellow attorney who develops a crush on Latifah. While most of Levy's lines are all too obvious, he©ös a comic-veteran who knows how to get a laugh.
Bringing Down the House does have funny moments, but more often than not, the jokes miss the mark. Watching Martin dress up as a gangsta might have seemed funny on paper--but compared to Warren Beatty's similar turn in Bulworth it was pretty lame. Betty White's racial slurs were equally unfunny and offensive. Broad comedy can be pretty tricky to get across, but if you want to see it done properly, go see Old School. There's a movie that knows how to sell it's offensive characters. It's a howl. Bringing Down the House is more of a whimper.
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